Tuesday, November 28, 2006

A Good Way to Kill Time

I looked at my watch. I had 20 minutes before my meeting, which should have been plenty of time to order a cake to celebrate a recent promotion in the office.I called the nearby supermarket and said that I’d like to order a cake to pick up on Thursday.The operator politely replied that she’d transfer me to the bakery, and thanks for holding.

The line went dead.I know that this is some companies’ way of putting you on hold, but I never know if that means they “accidentally” hung up on me.I had to order this cake, so I stayed on the line, hoping to hear a voice presently.

“Hi, are you holding for Mark?”“Um, I’m trying to get to the bakery to order a cake?”“Oh, okay, hold please.”“But – ”

And the silence again.Okay, I thought, I know they don’t have hold music, so this is fine.But then I heard a phone ringing, like I had just dialed.What the heck?

“Who are you holding for?”“I’m trying to reach the bakery about a cake.”“Hold, please.”

Argh!More silence!Then, the blasted question:

“Hi, who are you holding for?”“I’ve been on hold for fifteen minutes, trying to reach the bakery about a cake.”“Oh, hang on.”

For the love!What does it take to order a freaking cake around here?

“Bakery, how may I help you?”

Finally!

“I’d like to order a cake to pick up on Thursday, for about 8 people.”“Could you hold, please?”

Are you kidding me?

Two minutes later, I got a hold of a bakery person who, while taking my order, intermittently hollered to her cohorts about where random bakery equipment was located.Now, that’s what I call customer service.